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Open Recommendations (22 total)

Aviation Security: TSA Should Ensure Screening Technologies Continue to Meet Detection Requirements after Deployment

GAO-20-56
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should implement the process it develops to ensure that screening technologies continue to meet detection requirements after deployment to commercial airports. (Recommendation 5)
Open
In December 2019, we reported that TSA practices do not ensure that screening technologies continue to meet detection requirements after they have been deployed to airports. In April 2020, TSA issued a policy for developing a review process to assess performance after the deployment of each technology, including detection over time. Since TSA cannot use live explosives or simulants to test screening technologies, the agency plans to measure, for each technology, the performance of system components within the detection chain instead of directly measuring detecting requirements. In 2021, to address this recommendation, TSA provided a report for Explosives Trace Detection (ETD) technology to demonstrate the review process. However, according to TSA, the agency initiated the report prior to the publication of TSA's April 2020 policy for conducting the reviews, and therefore this review does not address all TSA requirements. We informed TSA that its April 2020 policy should require consistent elements across all reviews, such as general timeframes for conducting reviews. To fully address this recommendation, TSA needs to demonstrate that is has developed a review process for the testing of all TSA screening technologies deployed to the field. Since each technology has unique operational parameters and requirements, TSA's plans should address the specific technical approach the agency intends to use to ensure the screening technologies continue to meet detection requirements. As of August 2023, we are continuing to monitor TSA's implementation of this recommendation.

Aviation Security: Transportation Security Administration Could Further Improve Officer Engagement

GAO-24-106052
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should identify and implement actions, as appropriate, to address the root causes of TSO dissatisfaction with TSA support for their work-life balance. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Aviation Security: Transportation Security Administration Could Further Improve Officer Engagement

GAO-24-106052
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4 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should track and monitor airport leadership progress implementing the three actions identified in each airport Local Action Plan to ensure the plans are implemented. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should track and monitor whether employees and supervisors discuss the results from Leadership for Engagement Surveys and use those results to inform the development and implementation of individual action plans. (Recommendation 7)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should conduct an analysis to identify the underlying root causes of TSO dissatisfaction with communication from management. (Recommendation 8)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator should identify and implement actions, as appropriate, to address the root causes of TSO dissatisfaction with communication from management. (Recommendation 9)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Aviation Security: TSA Should Assess Potential for Discrimination and Better Inform Passengers of the Complaint Process

GAO-23-105201
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Transportation Security Administration The Administrator of TSA should conduct assessments to determine the extent to which TSA's passenger screening practices comply with agency non-discrimination policies to identify any needed actions to improve compliance. (Recommendation 2)
Open
As of October 2023, TSA officials stated that the agency plans to analyze the data collected on referrals for additional screening to identify the (1) rate that passengers alarm, (2) percentage of false alarms; and (3) causes of false alarms. They noted that the results of this study will be cross referenced with complaint data and used to identify whether there is a need to improve TSA security policies and procedures or to develop requirements for enhancements of security technology, including advanced imaging technology. Officials also stated that TSA would also use the results of its focus groups with Transportation Security Officers and passenger experience surveys to help ensure its operational policies and procedures do not violate agency non-discrimination policies. In addition to its data collection and analysis efforts, TSA reviewed literature on passenger experiences and potential bias in on-person screening and issued a briefing on its findings in March 2023. The briefing summarizes common factors associated with additional screening and potential strategies for using technology and procedures to help mitigate or prevent unintended bias. We will continue to monitor TSA's efforts to address this recommendation.

Aviation Security: TSA Should Assess Potential for Discrimination and Better Inform Passengers of the Complaint Process

GAO-23-105201
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Transportation Security Administration The Administrator of TSA should strengthen TSA's ability to analyze passenger discrimination complaints, including improving the collection and tracking of complaints data, to help inform training, procedures, and other initiatives. (Recommendation 4)
Open
According to TSA officials, in September 2023, the Customer Service Branch and Disabilities and Multicultural Branch received funding and approval to develop a new complaint case management system and procure licenses and cloud storage needed to support the new users and additional data associated with moving the current complaint management system to the new one. Officials stated that this effort will also allow the customer service points of contact at airports across the country to utilize the same system to provide necessary information for complaint cases, including resolution actions. TSA anticipates launching this capability in Fall 2024. Officials stated that this enhancement is intended to improve TSA's ability to perform data analysis on complaints, gain full lifecycle visibility into complaints, and expedite information sharing between headquarters and the field, among other benefits. For example, TSA officials said that the proposed features for the updated system will establish interoperability between the TSA Contact Center system and the Airport Information Management system, which is the database used by local TSA management at airports. According to TSA officials, this will help case managers in the Multicultural and Disability Branches and customer service managers in the field have a more holistic view of each complaint. In addition, officials said that the updated system would allow all pertinent parties across TSA to access and document complaints. We believe these actions would help address our recommendation, provided they result in improving TSA's ability to analyze discrimination complaints to inform training, procedures, and other initiatives. We will continue to monitor TSA's efforts in this area.

Surface Transportation Threats: Better Communication with Stakeholders Needed about the Security Clearance Process

GAO-24-106382
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator, in coordination with DHS I&A, CISA, and DHS's Office of the Chief Security Officer, should implement a communications approach that conveys consistent and accurate information to TSA staff who interact with surface transportation stakeholders about how those stakeholders access the security clearance application process. At minimum, the approach should aim to ensure accurate information about which DHS entities initiate applications for surface transportation stakeholders, whether there is a maximum number of clearances that could be granted, and what type of employees are eligible. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Transportation Security Administration The TSA Administrator, in coordination with DHS I&A, CISA, and DHS's Office of the Chief Security Officer, should implement a communications approach that conveys consistent and accurate information to surface transportation stakeholders about how they access the security clearance application process. At minimum, the approach should aim to ensure accurate information about which DHS entities initiate applications for surface transportation stakeholders, whether there is a maximum number of clearances that could be granted, and what type of employees are eligible. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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